Department for Transport

Parking

Lee Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce on-street parking congestion on public roads in residential areas.

George Freeman: The responsibility for traffic management on local roads rests with the relevant local authority, as they are best placed to consider how local needs can be met effectively. It is entirely a matter for individual authorities to decide on the nature and scope of their on-street parking policies and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local businesses and those who work in and visit the areas.

Driving: Licensing

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time for a Group 2 licence for applicants who are required to have a medical assessment.

George Freeman: Driving entitlement for Group 2 drivers must be renewed at regular intervals from age 45. The DVLA sends a reminder to the driver three months before the entitlement expires, enabling them to apply in advance. To improve the time taken to deal with these applications, the DVLA has recruited additional staff to process them. This includes increasing the number of doctors and introducing nurse caseworkers to deal with specific conditions.The time taken to deal with applications can depend on the information needed by the DVLA from medical professionals. The DVLA is working with medical professionals to reduce the time taken to receive the information it requires to make licensing decisions.The DVLA continually reviews its processes and has a dedicated team responsible for the improvement of its medical driver licensing services and communications.

M5: Road Signs and Markings

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the M5 last had its road markings repainted.

George Freeman: Highways England have a rolling programme of asset renewal, with road markings typically being repainted every 3-5 years. Highways Inspectors also carry out frequent inspections of the whole M5 carriageway and will assess and record any defects found. In mid January 2020 overnight works took place on the M5 southbound carriageway between 11A and 12 and 7134 linear metres of lining was repainted.

M5: Road Signs and Markings

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the length of the M5 has reflective studs.

George Freeman: The full length of the M5 has reflective studs installed.

M5: Road Signs and Markings

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the reflective studs on the M5 were last renewed.

George Freeman: Highways England have a rolling programme of asset renewal, with reflective studs typically being replaced every 3-5 years. Highways Inspectors also carry out frequent inspections of the whole M5 carriageway and will assess and record any defects found. Where studs are missing or damaged, Highways England arrange for their replacement as part of scheduled work schemes. In mid January 2020 overnight works took place on the M5 southbound carriageway between 11A and 12. 1446 studs were replaced.

Department for Transport: Families

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on his Department's application of the Family Test.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Better Regulation Unit leads on the application of the Family Test at the Department for Transport. Where relevant, the effects of regulatory policies that may directly or indirectly affect family relationships or formations are considered through the Regulatory Impact Assessment process. Within the Better Regulation Unit a Family Test Lead has been identified who represents the Department at the Family Test Network, hosted by the Department for Work and Pensions, to ensure we play an active role in Family Test policy development and implement the latest best practices and guidance.

Department for Transport: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.

George Freeman: The Department for Transport (DfT) works closely with its operators on risk assessment and mitigation measures for transport infrastructure. DfT contributed to the Government’s National Adaption Programme 2018 and Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017. These two documents set out Government’s adaptation measures and predicated climate change impacts nationally. DfT is continuing to work with transport operators and delivery partners to increase climate resilience in the planning and design of transport infrastructure and will keep incorporating adaptation into its strategies. Government is committed to delivering a net zero emission transport system, which will deliver wider benefits for the UK and its citizens, as soon as possible. These benefits include improved air quality and public health, new opportunities for economic growth and high-quality jobs in clean growth, as well as a sustainable and more efficient transport system. The forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will set out our bold and ambitious policies for transport to ensure the transport sector plays its part in ending the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

Bridges and Tunnels: Northern Ireland

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to conduct a feasibility study on a (a) bridge or (b) tunnel connecting the islands of Ireland and Great Britain.

George Freeman: A feasibility study has not currently been commissioned. However, as you would expect, government regularly commissions work to examine the feasibility of potential projects, so that position is subject to regular review.

Pedestrian Areas: Parking

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to prohibit the parking of vehicles on pavements.

George Freeman: The Department will set out its position when it responds to the Transport Select Committee report on pavement parking once a new committee has been formed.

Free Zones

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing free ports throughout the UK.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Freeports will be established after we leave the EU and will play a significant role in boosting trade. They will attract inward investment and drive productive activity across the UK, which will help rejuvenate deprived communities across the country through increased employment opportunities.The Government is engaging with industry experts and economists to ensure we make Freeports a success, by developing an extremely ambitious and attractive offer to businesses interested in investing in our FreeportsThe Government is committed to working with the DAs to ensure a Freeport policy that works for the whole UK. Specific locations for Freeports will be chosen in due course according to a fair, transparent and robust bidding process. The Government is keen to ensure that the bidding process is fair and open, and that the government is not seen to show favour to particular areas over others.

Railway Stations: Access

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on the provision of data on accessibility at railway stations operated by RDG member organisations under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Transport regularly engages with the Rail Delivery Group on how we can work together to make the rail network more accessible for disabled people and those with additional needs, including the provision of up to date information of accessible facilities on trains and at stations. However, this is not done under the terms of the Open Government License.

Railway Stations: Access

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Office of Rail and Road on the provision of data on accessibility at facilities covered by that Office's supervisory and regulatory functions.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department for Transport engages with the Office of Rail and Road on issues regarding the accessibility of the rail network including the importance of reliable and up-to-date accessibility information. The Williams Rail Review will shortly come forward with proposals to improve access for disabled passengers to the network.

Railway Stations: Access

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to ensure that the proposals on rail industry data collection and sharing in the Williams Rail Review’s evidence paper, entitled Rail in the future transport system, are introduced to improve access to information on accessibility across the rail network; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Government will publish a White Paper on the recommendations of the Williams Review early this year, including those relating to data. The White Paper will include proposals to improve access for disabled passengers to the network.

Bus Services: Disability

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Scottish and (b) Welsh Governments on section 17 of the Bus Services Act 2017; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: Section 17 of the Bus Services Act 2017 provides powers for the secretary of state to require the provision of audible and visible information on board local bus services throughout Great Britain. In exercising their powers the Secretary of State must consult with both Scottish and Welsh Ministers. Officials engaged with their Scottish and Welsh counterparts during the development of the policy proposals put to consultation in summer 2018, and both devolved administrations were invited to respond formally. We will continue to engage with the devolved administrations in finalising the policy and bringing forward Regulations.

Bus Services: Disability

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answers of 23 May 2019 to Questions 256382 and 256383 on Bus Services: Disability, what progress he has made in the provision of audio-visual announcements on bus services under section 17 of the Bus Services Act 2017.

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made in drafting the regulations to be laid before the House under section 17 of the Bus Services Act 2017.

George Freeman: In Summer 2018 the Government published a public consultation on proposals to require the provision of accessible on-board information on local bus services throughout Great Britain. We are currently finalizing our response to the consultation and expect to announce our next steps regarding the making of Regulations and publication of guidance later in the year.

A14

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to deliver road improvements on the A14 between Cambridge and Felixstowe.

George Freeman: Development work for improvements to the A14/A12 Copdock Interchange is being supported with funding from the Port Infrastructure Fund, as announced in September 2019. The Department is considering proposals for other enhancements on this stretch of the A14 as part of the second Road Investment Strategy, which is expected to be announced shortly.

A14: Bridges

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to improve wind shielding on the Orwell Bridge in Suffolk; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: Highways England has no current plans to improve wind shielding on the Orwell Bridge. Any introduction of new features would have loading implications for the structure, which is 1287 meters long. Highways England is aware of the impact any closure of the Orwell Bridge has during high winds. Any decision to close it is not taken lightly and is made on safety grounds alone. Highways England commissioned a study in October 2018 which will help determine whether the current closure threshold is appropriate. It has meetings planned with business partners and stakeholders later this month to present and discuss its findings and next steps. The study will then be published on Highways England’s website.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help bring forward a peace settlement in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​We have been at the forefront of international efforts to reach a political settlement to the conflict in Yemen, and there are currently positive steps towards de-escalation. The UK has used its role as penholder at the UN Security Council to help push the Yemen peace process forward. In September 2019, the UK co-hosted a political event at the UN General Assembly to coordinate the international community's support for the UN-led peace process. We are supporting the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to protect progress on de-escalation and the Saudi-brokered Riyadh Agreement in preparation for wider political consultations.

Department of Health and Social Care

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the capacity of local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in (a) the City of York and (b) the UK.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20 – 2023/24, has a commitment that by 2023/24 an additional 345,000 children and young people in England will be accessing National Health Service-funded mental health services. In total the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group is forecast to spend £4.2 million on children and adolescent mental health services in 2019/2020, including £470,000 additional investment as part of its commitment to achieve the Mental Health Investment Standard.

Mental Health Services: Children

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has plans to allocated grants to local (a) voluntary and (b) charity groups to support children suffering from mental health issues in the next five fiscal years.

Ms Nadine Dorries: As part of the Government’s commitment to transforming mental health, in 2019/20, £3.3 million was allocated to 23 local community projects across England to improve local access to mental health services for young people, with early intervention for those at risk of mental health problems.In addition, the NHS Implementation Plan 2019/20 – 2023/24 (2019) sets out a commitment to involve Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations in the delivery of NHS Long Term Plan transformation programmesWe will continue to consider effective ways of doing this, including through grant allocations where the evidence shows the benefits of doing this.

Life Expectancy: Disadvantaged

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increasing wealth gap in life expectancy.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the decrease in life expectancy gains in the UK since 2011.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to help reduce the disparity in life expectancy between the poorest and wealthiest people.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of wealth inequalities in healthy life expectancy.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for wealth inequalities in life expectancy.

Jo Churchill: The Government wants everyone to have the same opportunity to have a long and healthy life, whoever they are, wherever they live and whatever their social circumstances. We are committed to giving everyone five extra years of healthy, independent life by 2035 and reducing the gap between the rich and poor. Life expectancy at birth is the highest it has ever been in England. However, the rate of improvement in life expectancy has slowed down and we are not complacent.This Government has committed to back the National Health Service by £33.9 billion a year by 2023/24. The NHS Long Term Plan commits all major national programmes and every local area across England is required to set out specific measurable goals and mechanisms by which they will contribute to narrowing health inequalities over the next five and ten years.Preventing health problems is the best way to improve life expectancy and reduce inequalities. The commitments outlined in the Prevention Green Paper signal a new approach for the health and care system.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are circumstances under which Specialist Importers of cannabis-based products for medicinal use are permitted to import that product in bulk.

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many notifications the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has received from (a) pharmacies and (b) Specialist Importers on importation orders for unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use in the last 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has assessed the (a) safety and (b) quality of unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are circumstances under which Specialist Importers may import cannabis-based active pharmaceutical ingredients for use in the manufacturing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in the UK.

Jo Churchill: Unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPM) may only be imported to meet the special clinical need of individual patients. It is not currently possible to import bulk quantities of these products. This restriction forms part of the checks and balances that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs asked the Government to put in place when rescheduling CBPMs to minimise the risk of misuse and diversion.The Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency has received 242 notifications for the importation of unlicensed CBPMs from specialist importers in the past 12 months.Unlicensed medicines, including CBPMs are not assessed by the MHRA for quality, safety and efficacy, but must be notified to the MHRA prior to import and meet basic production standards.Importers registered with the MHRA can import active pharmaceutical ingredients where intended for the production of a medicinal product for use in humans.

Clinical Trials: EU Law

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on alignment with the forthcoming EU Clinical Trial Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 536/2014) after the UK has left the EU.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Health Research Authority, ethics services, National Institute for Health Research, National Health Service and devolved administrations have been preparing to implement the forthcoming European Union Clinical Trials Regulation since it was agreed in 2014. The United Kingdom will implement those aspects of the regulation which best suits the interests of UK patients, industry, non-commercial researchers and hospitals when it comes into force and this is currently expected during 2022.Regardless of the terms of our exit, we will ensure that we are at the forefront of clinical trials internationally and that the UK remains a competitive environment in which to conduct clinical trials.

General Practitioners: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new GPs in Romford constituency have started work in the last five years.

Jo Churchill: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 23 January 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The data is not available in the format requested. NHS Digital publishes data on the overall growth in the general practice workforce. However, it is not possible to use this publication to identify doctors or other general practice staff that are new. Therefore the total number of full-time-equivalent doctors in general practice has been provided for each of the last five years in the attached table. Romford constituency does not align to a clinical commissioning group (CCG).Data covering the number of doctors working in Havering CCG, which included the town of Romford, in each year since 2015 has been provided in the attached table. General practitioner (GP) locums are excluded as improvements have been made to GP locum recording methodology and figures are not comparable across the time series. Data is not included prior to 2015 as improvements were made to the methodology for recording all staff working in general practice in September 2015 and data prior to this is not comparable.   



Full time doctors in general practice 2015-2019
(Word Document, 20.72 KB)

Jo Churchill: The data is not available in the format requested. NHS Digital publishes data on the overall growth in the general practice workforce. However, it is not possible to use this publication to identify doctors or other general practice staff that are new. Therefore the total number of full-time-equivalent doctors in general practice has been provided for each of the last five years in the attached table. Romford constituency does not align to a clinical commissioning group (CCG).Data covering the number of doctors working in Havering CCG, which included the town of Romford, in each year since 2015 has been provided in the attached table. General practitioner (GP) locums are excluded as improvements have been made to GP locum recording methodology and figures are not comparable across the time series. Data is not included prior to 2015 as improvements were made to the methodology for recording all staff working in general practice in September 2015 and data prior to this is not comparable.   



Full time doctors in general practice 2015-2019
(Word Document, 20.72 KB)

Human Papillomavirus: Health Education

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to (a) increase public understanding of HPV and (b) raise public awareness of the benefits of HPV screening alongside the roll-out of HPV primary screening in the cervical cancer screening programme.

Jo Churchill: Alongside the roll out of human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening, Public Health England has produced a new range of leaflets and letters to inform women of the new test and screening pathway.The Helping You Decide leaflet informs women about the new HPV screening test, the benefits and risks of cervical screening as well as explaining the possible results from a screen test. This leaflet is sent out with the invitation letter and is available in ten different languages. It can be viewed at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/846501/Cervical_screening_helping_you_decide_HPV.pdfThe letters and leaflets were produced with input from a wide range of professional and public bodies including academics, charities, clinicians and programme experts as well as being tested with focus groups to ensure they were fit for purpose, inclusive and accessible.

Carbon Monoxide: Health Hazards

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of carbon monoxide on public health; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a serious and preventable form of poisoning. Each year there are about 25 deaths from accidental CO poisoning in England and Wales and in excess of 200 non-fatal cases that require hospitalisation. Data on mortality from CO poisoning (deaths registered in 2016-2017 in England and Wales) is available at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/009122numberofdeathsfromaccidentalpoisoningbycarbonmonoxideenglandandwalesdeathsregisteredin2017 Public Health England (PHE) is working closely with the Department and other Government departments to raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution generally and CO specifically, and to improve the dissemination of evidence.PHE’s programme of CO work seeks to increase understanding of the prevalence of low level CO exposure, improve CO exposure diagnosis and prevent CO exposure occurring.PHE works with national and local stakeholders, public health partners and government departments to develop advice and actions, which can be taken to prevent accidental exposure to CO in homes, available to view at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/carbon-monoxide-coPHE published a tool for general practitioners, emergency physicians and other medical professionals in England to diagnose and manage CO poisoning in patients. This document can be viewed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carbon-monoxide-co-algorithm-to-diagnose-poisoning

Department of Health and Social Care: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.

Jo Churchill: The Department has made assessments of the effect of climate change on the work of the Department in developing our commitments for the health and social care system within the National Adaptation Programme available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/climate-change-second-national-adaptation-programme-2018-to-2023It has also developed a Departmental Sustainable Development Plan, which sets the ambition for the Department to embed sustainability in all policy development and includes our commitment to the ‘Greening Government Commitments’. This is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/greening-government-commitmentsThis Department works closely across Government to ensure that climate change policies also deliver associated benefits to public health where appropriate.

Occupational Health

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on how Government can encourage employers to invest in early clinical intervention.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of making (a) early intervention mental health support and (b) physiotherapy provided by employers non-taxable benefits-in-kind.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Government is exploring a range of policy options aiming to reduce ill-health related job loss. The consultation ‘Health is Everyone’s Business: Proposals to Reduce Ill Health-related Job Loss’ closed in October 2019. It set out proposals to boost Government support available to employers to support employees who are managing health conditions in work and to manage sickness absence more effectively. It included proposals to encourage employers to take early, sustained and proportionate steps to support a sick employee to return to work, reform Statutory Sick Pay, improve occupational health availability and improve the provision of advice and support for employers. We have received a good response from a range of stakeholders, which we are reviewing.

Mental Health Services

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to care for those in mental health crisis, and what steps his Department is taking to improve the provision of mental health care in the community.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 23 January 2020



We recognise the importance of people being able to access the support they need when they experience a mental health crisis. We have committed to investing an extra £2.3 billion a year for mental health services by 2023/24. Around half of this will go to improving services to help people experiencing mental health crises and community mental health services.The NHS Long Term Plan commits to 24-hour mental health crisis support being available via NHS 111 by 2023/24 alongside increased investment in a range of complementary and alternative crisis services, improvements in the mental health response from the ambulance service and testing of appropriate access and waiting times standards for urgent and emergency mental healthcare. In September 2019, we announced funding to expand and transform community mental health services for people with mental health conditions in 12 pilot areas. This is the first step in a £975 million investment to transform community mental health services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. These 12 pilot sites will receive £70 million funding for new specialist services for mental health community care, revamping local NHS services to build closer ties with charities, local councils and others.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to allocated funding from the public purse to enable schools in Easington constituency to establish mental health and wellbeing teams to support pupils.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 23 January 2020



Our Green Paper on children and young people’s mental health aims to improve the provision of services through its key proposals, one of which is to create new Mental Health Support Teams in and near groups of schools and colleges in their areas. In December 2018, we announced 25 Trailblazer sites to run the first wave of 59 Mental Health Support Teams. The first of these teams are now becoming fully operational. On 12 July 2019, we announced that further Mental Health Support Teams are to be set up across 57 sites. Easington, through Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group, is one such site. The teams form part of the National Health Service’s commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan, which commits at least a further £2.3 billion a year to mental health services by 2023/24.

Wales Office

EU Nationals: Wales

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on what steps she will take in relation to EU citizens in Wales who have not been granted the right to remain in the UK by the end of June 2021.

Simon Hart: I discuss a range of issues with my Cabinet colleagues including EU Exit.The EU Settlement Scheme has been fully open since 30 March 2019. EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens, and their family members have until 30 June 2021 to apply. The EU Settlement Scheme is a free Scheme which enables EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK, and their family members, to obtain the status they will require in order to live and work in the UK after it leaves the EU. The Government has always been clear that we will take a pragmatic approach and, in line with the Withdrawal Agreement, allow those with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline a reasonable further opportunity to apply. EU citizens will not automatically be deported if they fail to sign up to the settled status scheme by the 30 June 2021 deadline.

Capital Investment: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to secure increased capital investment for Wales.

Simon Hart: The Government is committed to ensuring that no area is left behind when it comes to increased capital investment for Wales. The Government has already secured substantial amounts of investment to improve the infrastructure in Wales, such as the new Intercity Express Trains on Great Western Main Line worth £5.7 billion, up to £58 million for the upgrade of Cardiff Central station and £4 million towards reopening Bow Street station. £69 million has been allocated for the rollout of superfast broadband across Wales and at Autumn Budget we announced a further £200 million for broadband for the hardest to reach areas and Wales will be included in the first phase of this work.Nevertheless, there is more that we can do and I will continue to work with the Welsh Government, other UK Government departments to agree how to strengthen the Welsh economy and provide greater connectivity, ensuring that all interests are included when it comes to capital investment in Wales.

Department for Education

Schools

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of schools were run by (a) local authorities, (b) churches and (c) academies and (d) free schools on (i) 5 April 2010 and (ii) each subsequent year.

Nick Gibb: Information on the number and type of schools is collected in the school census and has been published from 2010 onwards in the statistical release ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.These include figures on the number of schools by both type (for example academy, voluntary aided or voluntary controlled) and religious character. A school may have a religious character but not be run directly by a church body. The relevant table for 2010 is table 2b and the relevant table for the most recent year (2019) table 2a. Data is collected as at January each year so a count on 5 April 2010 is not available.

Special Educational Needs: Expenditure

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much money from the public purse his Department spent on support for SEND in (a) York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in each year since 2010.

Michelle Donelan: Local authorities are required to provide schools with sufficient funds to enable schools to meet the additional cost of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), up to the value of £6,000. This funding comes from the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant. When the costs of additional support required for a pupil with SEND exceed £6,000, the local authority should also allocate additional top-up funding to cover the excess costs. This top-up funding, and funding for special schools, comes from the local authority’s high needs budget. We recently announced £780 million in additional high needs funding for the next financial year. Every local authority will see an increase in high needs funding of at least 8% per head of population aged 2 to 18. York City Council is receiving £21 million in funding next year.In 2013, the schools and high needs budgets were created within the Dedicated Schools Grant. As the Dedicated Schools Grant includes other budgets such as the early years budget, the department is unable to provide comparable figures before 2013-14.   The schools and high needs allocations for York since 2013-14 are as follows:  YearSchools funding amountHigh needs funding amount2013-14£89.3 million£13.7 million2014-15£90.1 million£14.9 million2015-16£91.1 million£15.2 million2016-17£92.2 million£15.5 million2017-18£93.0 million£18.1 million2018-19£94.1 million£19.1 million[1]2019-20£98.2 million£19.5 million12020-21£104.0 million£21.0 millionThe schools and high needs allocations for Yorkshire and the Humber since 2013-14 are as follows:  YearSchools funding amountHigh needs funding amount2013-14£3073.7 million£412.8 million2014-15£3095.2 million£430.7 million2015-16£3223.7 million£436.2 million2016-17£3259.4 million£442.1 million2017-18£3310.4 million£476.3 million2018-19£3357.8 million£512.6 million12019-20£3434.6 million£531.9 million12020-21£3657.0 million£616.7 million  The schools and high needs allocations for England since 2013-14 are as follows:  YearSchools funding amountHigh needs funding amount2013-14£30,411.7 million£4966.9 million2014-15£30,655.1 million£5187.9 million2015-16£32,168.1 million£5246.5 million2016-17£32,650.3 million£5299.9 million2017-18£33,093.6 million£5826.8 million2018-19£33,684.0 million£6114.3 million12019-20£34,502.6 million£6277.4 million12020-21£36,277.8 million£7072.7 million   [1] In December 2018, the department allocated an additional £250 million of high needs funding nationally, spread across 2018-19 and 2019-20, in recognition of funding pressures. The resulting additional funding is included within the final totals displayed.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will introduce a capital expansion fund for sixth form providers.

Michelle Donelan: Our ambition is to level up the skills of the entire nation and ensure that post-16 education providers are in a great shape to deliver this. We are considering how best to achieve this ambition and we will announce details of future capital funding in due course. This will build on the significant uplift in recurrent funding for 16-19 education which we are putting in place for the 2020/21 academic year.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) per-pupil funding for sixth form students and (b) funding for sixth form students' maintenance costs.

Michelle Donelan: We are investing an extra £400 million in 16 to 19 education next year to ensure we are building on the skills that our country needs. We will increase the base rate of funding by 4.7%, from £4,000 to £4,188 for the academic year 2020/21. Over and above the base rate rise, this extra spending also includes new resources for high value and high cost courses and funding to support those on level 3 programmes to continue to study English and maths where needed. This is the biggest injection of new money into 16 to 19 education in a single year since 2010 - with funding increasing faster for 16 to 19 than in 5 to 16 schooling – and will mean a significant increase in the average level of funding per student. We will of course continue to look at the needs of 16 to 19 education in future Spending Reviews. Maintenance costs are not required or provided for sixth form students in the same way as they are required, for example, for students in higher education, because most 16 to 19 year olds live at home. However, financial support is available for disadvantaged students through discretionary bursaries to help with costs such as travel. In addition, bursaries of up to £1,200 a year are available for students in defined vulnerable groups (mainly those living independently or without family financial support), and free meals are also available for disadvantaged students. We are changing how we allocate the 16 to 19 discretionary bursary fund from the academic year 2020/2021. We will be using up-to-date patterns of disadvantage, and the expected level of support required for travel and industry placement costs, as the basis for funding. This will create institution level allocations that are better matched to student need across the country. There is also financial support available for young parents’ childcare costs and for essential accommodation for financially disadvantaged students where they need to live away from home to participate in a study programme or to attend one of the designated institutions delivering specialist provision. This funding and financial support has contributed to the current record high proportion of 16 and 17 year olds who are participating in education or apprenticeships since consistent records began.

GCSE: Romford

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children achieved (a) the highest and (b) pass grades in their GCSE examinations in Romford constituency in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in all state-funded schools[1] achieving grades 9-4 or A*-C in English and mathematics GCSEs in Romford constituency over the last four years is in the table attached.Further data at institution level for schools in Romford from 2014-2019 can be accessed from the download data section of the school performance tables website: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/. [1] State-funded schools include academies, free schools, city technology colleges, further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds and state-funded special schools. They exclude independent schools, independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, hospital schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision. Alternative provision includes academy and free school alternative provision.



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Apprentices

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to increase the (a) quantity and (b) quality of apprenticeships in (i) the City of York local authority, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iii) the UK.

Michelle Donelan: We are working hard to encourage the take up of apprenticeships across England. This month we launched the third phase of the ‘Fire it Up’ marketing campaign, focusing on widening participation in apprenticeships. Our 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week will take place from 3 to 7 February 2019. Focusing on diversity as well as quality, the week aims to support our aim to widen participation in apprenticeships. In terms of quality, we are working to make apprenticeships across England longer and better, with more off-the-job training and an independent assessment at the end that is quality assured by an external body. From August 2020, all apprenticeship starts will be on new apprenticeship standards designed and driven by industry, creating high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for individuals and providing employers with the skills they need. Since May 2010, 4,266,200 apprentices have started training in England. Of these, 13,590 apprenticeships were based in York, and 230,780 in Yorkshire and the Humber. Apprenticeship starts in England in 2018/19 increased by 4.7% compared to the previous year. Over the same period, starts increased by 17.5% in York and by 6% in Yorkshire and Humber.

Care to Learn Scheme

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the number of people using Care to Learn has fallen by 64 per cent since 2013-14.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to simplify the process of claiming financial support through Care to Learn.

Nick Gibb: Over recent years, demand for the Care to Learn scheme has fallen. The most significant reason for this fall in demand is the reduction in teenage pregnancy rates, which are now at an all-time low. There has also been a reduction in the number of young people in the population. The Government continues to make Care to Learn available to young parents in qualifying education, where they are aged under 20 at the start of their course and meet the scheme requirements. When developing the Care to Learn application and payment systems, the Government must ensure that public funding is used appropriately. In developing the systems, the Government reviewed the data required to establish student eligibility and to pay childcare providers and designed the system to request only the minimum information to carry out these checks. The Government plans to keep the service under review and to ensure the process of claiming Care to Learn is as simple as possible.

Department for Education: Families

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on his Department's application to the Family Test.

Michelle Donelan: Each department has a Family Test lead who is part of our Family Test Network. This network is the central forum through which we have sought input and comments on the support that departments need to help with Family Test implementation. This includes network members feeding into improvements to the existing guidance for officials in all departments on Family Test implementation.

Department for Education: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 24 January 2020



The Department of Education is supporting sustainability both through the content taught to students, and through supporting our schools to become more sustainable institutions.It is important that young people are taught about climate change and sustainability. Topics related to this are included in both the science and geography curriculum and qualifications. For example, in primary science pupils are taught about how environments can change as a result of human actions. In secondary science, pupils are taught about the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the effect this has on the climate. This is expanded on in GCSE science where pupils will consider the evidence for additional anthropogenic causes of climate change. As part of GCSE geography pupils will look at the causes, consequences of and responses to extreme weather conditions and natural weather hazards. In 2017, we also introduced a new environmental science A level. This will enable students to study topics that will support their understanding of climate change and how it can be tackled.In addition, sustainability content will be included in T levels, new post-16 technical study programs. In setting outline content, the T level panels of employers and industry experts must consider the inclusion of sustainability as relevant to their sector. For example, in Construction, T level students will be required to learn about renewable energy and emerging technologies to support energy efficiency.The Department support sustainability through our capital funding and programmes, both to reduce carbon and save schools money on energy. Schools can use their condition funding to invest in improving energy efficiency. Furthermore, interest free loans for energy efficiency projects in maintained schools are available through the Government backed Salix finance scheme. Salix loans have also been made available to academies through an annual application process. More broadly, we are working with colleagues across the Government on carbon reduction and energy efficiency and developing thinking on how future capital programmes can contribute further. During procurements, Department for Education considers how this might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area, where this is relevant to the subject matter of the contract.From April, the Department will begin implementation of new government guidance on Social Value, which requires central Government Departments to take account of social impact as part of the award criteria where this is linked to the subject matter of the contract and proportionate. This may include reducing environmental impacts.

Universities: Assessments

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a nation-wide accreditation scheme for university grades.

Chris Skidmore: The government has set a clear expectation that universities must use their awarding powers responsibly and must not inflate grades for their own reputation or league table ranking. It is vital that students, graduates and the public are confident in the value of a university degree.UK higher education providers with degree-awarding powers are responsible for the academic standards of their awards. Providers are held to account through the UK Quality Code for Higher Education which requires providers to use external expertise, assessment and classification processes that are reliable, fair, and transparent.The sector has agreed to recognise new standards for all degree classifications. These set out what criteria students need to meet in order to achieve each level of classification of Bachelor’s degree with honours qualifications, helping to ensure degree standards are reliable and reflect the level of a student’s achievements.

Dedicated Schools Grant

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his timescale is for his Department's response to the Dedicated Schools Grant consultation.

Nick Gibb: The consultation on clarifying the specific grant and ring-fenced status of the Dedicated Schools Grant concluded on 15 November. The Department is currently considering the responses received, and the Department’s response to the consultation will be published in due course.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Industrial Health and Safety

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the riot at HMP Deerbolt on 8 January 2020, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure the safety of prison staff and (b) recognise their work in difficult environments.

Lucy Frazer: Our highly-skilled staff successfully resolved an incident involving 18 prisoners on one wing at HMYOI Deerbolt on 8 January. The 18 prisoners involved in the incident were transferred to other prisons or held in Deerbolt’s segregation unit. The perpetrators have been placed on report pending adjudication hearings as well as investigation by the police.Prison officers do an outstanding job, and we do not underestimate the challenges faced by everyone working in prisons. We are committed to making prisons a safe place to work and are providing prison officers with the right support, training and tools to empower them to do their jobs. Any prisoner who commits an act of violence can expect to have action taken against them.We are rolling out our key worker model to improve staff-prisoner relationships and reduce violence, by providing individual support to each prisoner from a dedicated officer. We are giving staff rigid bar handcuffs and have provided nearly 6,000 body worn video cameras to officers, which provide high-quality evidence to support prosecutions.We are also introducing PAVA – a synthetic pepper spray – to protect staff and prisoners from incidents where there is serious violence, or an imminent or perceived risk of serious violence. Alongside the rollout of PAVA we are introducing a new personal safety package, SPEAR (Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response), to ensure that PAVA is introduced as part of a wider package of skills for staff to resolve and deescalate incidents.Finally, we are spending £2.75 billion to transform the prison estate, creating 10,000 additional modern prison places and bolstering security to allow staff to focus their efforts on rehabilitating offenders.

Department for International Trade

Renewable Energy: Exports

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support exports from the renewable energy sector.

Graham Stuart: The Department for International Trade (DIT) undertakes a range of promotion activities to support exports from the renewable energy sector, including those under the ‘GREAT’ campaign, further information about which can be found on DIT’s website. Engagement with UK exporters forms part of the work of DIT’s sector teams – one of which specifically focuses on renewable energy technologies – as well as our international network of trade and investment advisors, with renewable energy and clean growth key themes. For example, last year the Department worked closely with Taiwan which included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to open up Taiwan’s offshore wind opportunities for UK companies. The offshore wind sector deal commits DIT and industry to increase offshore wind exports fivefold to £2.6 billion by 2030.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Stronger Towns Fund: Ipswich

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating funding from the Stronger Towns Fund to Ipswich based on the work of the Ipswich Vision Board.

Jake Berry: We are pleased to confirm that Ipswich has been selected as one of the first 100 places to benefit from the £3.6 billion Towns Fund. We have been in touch with colleagues in Ipswich and will be working with them to develop their Town Deal. I hope you will continue to play an active role in shaping their plans.

Community Development: Yorkshire and the Humber

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much money from the public purse his Department has spent on support for community social hubs in (a) the City of York and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) each subsequent year.

Luke Hall: From information we have available, MHCLG has not provided any direct funding to community social hub projects in the City of York since 2010. It has however spent the following on support for community social hubs across Yorkshire and the Humber since 2010. Yorkshire and the HumberDateScheme Level of fundingSince 2013Community Pubs Pub is The Hub (PITH) £226,969 Total MHCLG funding for all Community Pubs projects in Yorkshire and The Humber2016 - 2019Community Pubs More Than a Pub 2015 – 16Pocket Parks £111,5522017 - 18Communities Fund £66,0002018 – 19Building Connections Fund £35,936 MHCLG contributed £1m to a shared £11.5m fund2017/18 - 2018/19Controlling Migration Fund £415,6342018 – 19Pocket Parks Plus £453,688.272017 - 19Controlling Migration Fund £40,0002018 - 19Controlling Migration Fund £15,0002019 - 20Open Doors Total cost of England-wide plot scheme (£420,000) across 5 areas

Private Rented Housing: Tenancy Agreements

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there will be a consultation process as part of his review of the national model tenancy agreement.

Esther McVey: I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 22 January to Question UIN 3196.

Community Housing Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support (a) Sussex Cohousing Brighton and (b) other community housing fund organisations with outstanding applications to the Community Housing Fund for pre-development revenue funding which were submitted (i) at any point, (ii) six months and (iii) 12 months before the December 2019 deadline; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The management of individual applications to Homes England’s Community Housing Fund programme is a matter for Homes England.Community Housing Fund allocations for future years will be considered at forthcoming Budget and Spending Review.

Community Housing Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of homes included in applications to the Community Housing Fund prior to its early closure in December 2019; if he will reverse the decision to close the fund and allow all projects at the application stage to complete the process; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Community Housing Fund is currently scheduled to close in March 2020. Ministers are considering all budgets in the round and allocations for 2020/21 will be confirmed through a business planning exercise. Allocations for future years will be considered at forthcoming Budget and Spending Review.The Government recognises that the community-led housing sector offers significant potential for helping to meet housing need across England. In addition to helping increase the rate of delivery of new housing, it will help deliver a range of benefits including diversifying the housebuilding sector, improving design and construction quality, developing modern methods of construction, and sustaining local communities and local economies. The support and close involvement of the local community enables the community-led approach to secure planning permission and deliver housing that could not be brought forward through speculative development.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Pay

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department complies with the requirement set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code that time off with pay for safety representatives will not be set against facility time allowed under existing arrangements.

Jake Berry: The department has an obligation to provide reasonable paid time off to recognised trade union representatives to undertake trade union duties. This also includes paid time off for safety representatives as set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management CodeIn line with the legislative obligation, set out in the Trade Union Act (2016), information relating to facility time for relevant union officials is published annually, with facility time defined by that Act as including time off taken by a relevant union official. Time off is permitted by the official’s employer, including where this arises under “regulations made under section 2(4) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974”.The Government recognises there are significant benefits to both employers and employees when organisations and unions work together effectively to deliver high quality public services, but facility time within the public sector must be accountable and represent value for money.

Religious Hatred: Islam

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on adopting the APPG for Muslims definition of Islamophobia.

Luke Hall: It is unacceptable for anyone to feel unsafe while practicing their religion, and this Government will never allow prejudice and discrimination of any kind against the Muslim community. We will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to Anti-Muslim hatred.The definition proposed by the APPG is problematic as it is not in line with the Equality Act of 2010 and could also have consequences for freedom of speech. We recognise the importance of this matter and will explore and interrogate the issue in further detail.

Sleeping Rough

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is his Department's policy to end rough sleeping by 2027; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce rough sleeping.

Luke Hall: This Government is clear that no one should be without a roof over their head. That is why the Government’s manifesto brought forward the date by which we will end rough sleeping to the end of this Parliament.The Government has already committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the Spending Review period to April 2020. In 2020/2021 we are providing a further £422 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, a £54 million increase compared to 2019/20. This funding will go towards funding important programmes such as the Rapid Rehousing Pathway, the Rough Sleeping Initiative, the Cold Weather Fund and pilots of Housing First.

Sleeping Rough

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Rough Sleeping Strategy 2018, published in August 2018, what progress he has made on publishing annual strategy updates and a delivery plan.

Luke Hall: This Government is clear that no one should be without a roof over their head. That is why we have committed to ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament and to enforcing the Homelessness Reduction Act.In August 2018, we published the Rough Sleeping Strategy, which set out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now and to put in place structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. We published a delivery plan in December 2018, setting out progress to date, as well as milestones and expected delivery dates for each for the 61 commitments made in the Strategy. The Government has already committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period to April 2020. In 2020/21, we are providing a further £422 million to tackle homelessness. This marks a £54 million increase on what Government provided in 2019/20.We are working with partners across government to develop plans to deliver our manifesto commitment and Ministers will be considering plans for a Strategy as part of this process.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local and traveller communities are consulted on the designation of traveller transit sites.

Luke Hall: Local planning authorities are required to engage a wide section of the community in preparing local plans that designate new traveller transit sites. To support plan-making, the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites is clear that local authorities should pay particular attention to early and effective community engagement with both settled and traveller communities.Where planning applications are submitted, there are opportunities for views to be expressed and influence decisions on proposals for future development. In reaching a decision, a council must take these views into account alongside the local plan and all other relevant considerations.

Local Government Finance: Leicestershire

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable funding for (a) Hinckley and Bosworth borough council and (b) Leicestershire county council.

Luke Hall: We are committed to undertaking a review of the relative needs and resources of local authorities in England. The review will consider the drivers of local authorities’ needs, the local resources available to them to fund services, and how to account for these in a way that draws a more transparent and understandable link between local circumstances and local authority funding.We aim to develop a funding methodology that will give a more up-to-date and robust assessment of the needs and resources for every local council, including those in Leicestershire.We are working closely with local government representatives and others to examine all elements of the review. We aim to share emerging results with the sector shortly, followed by a full consultation in the Spring. Our aim is to implement the review in 2021-22.

Housing: Broadband

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that high speed broadband infrastructure is included in new housing development sites before those houses are occupied.

Esther McVey: New build connectivity is a priority for this Government. Ensuring new homes are built with the future in mind, ready to accept the next generation of digital infrastructure, remains vitally important.The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, supported by my department, issued a policy consultation in 2018 outlining proposals to mandate gigabit-capable connections to new build developments.Government confirmed its intention to legislate on new build connectivity in the Queen's Speech and the Government response, setting out the next steps, will be issued in the Spring.

Flats: Fire Prevention

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government's Advice Note on Balconies on Residential Buildings published on 24 June 2019, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that housing providers have (a) made the necessary assessments of their housing stock on combustible material, (b) taken steps to mitigate risks and (c) adequate financial resources to improve standards.

Esther McVey: Building safety is the responsibility of the building owner, and they must remedy any safety risks uncovered. Government have published advice, including on balconies, for building owners on how to ensure safety of buildings here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-safety-programme#advice-notes. Building owners should consider all routes to meet costs, protecting residents where they can – for example through warranties and recovering costs from contractors for incorrect or poor work.Local authorities and housing associations should contact MHCLG or the Regulator of Social Housing respectively, if carrying out essential fire safety works would affect their financial viability.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Families

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on his Department's application of the Family Test.

Luke Hall: MHCLG follows the guidance set out by the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to application of the Family Test.In addition, my Department has implemented its own measures to ensure policy officials are aware of their Family Test obligations, with training provided to raise awareness. There is a clear expectation and practice within MHCLG that the Family Test is applied to relevant policies at each stage of the policy making process.

Holiday Accommodation: Safety

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps Department is taking to ensure short-term lets are safe; and if he will make statement.

Esther McVey: We support the short-term lettings industry’s efforts to drive out poor practice, including the Short-Term Accommodation Association’s (STAA) Considerate Short-Term Lets Charter.Do You Have Paying Guests, published by the Home Office and the National Fire Chiefs Council, outlines all necessary fire safety precautions for any property being let out. This is kept under review.

Social Rented Housing: White Papers

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his timescale is for publishing a social housing White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: We will bring forward a Social Housing White Paper, which will set out further measures to empower tenants and support the continued supply of social homes. This will include measures to provide greater redress, better regulation and improve the quality of social housing. We are working to bring forward the White Paper as quickly as possible.

Rented Housing: Carbon Monoxide

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require carbon monoxide alarms in both private- and social-rented homes with a carbon fuel-burning appliance; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Government takes the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning seriously and is taking steps to raise awareness of and tackle these risks. A summary of Government activities can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm.We are also considering the findings of the Government review of carbon monoxide alarm requirements which looked at whether these requirements should be extended to all carbon fuel-burning appliances in private and social rented homes. We will set out the next steps in due course.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.

Luke Hall: Achieving net zero is a priority for the whole of government, which is why the Prime Minister is chairing a new Cabinet Committee on Climate Change to drive action across all sectors of the economy and demonstrate the UK’s global leadership as we prepare to host the crucial COP26 talks in Glasgow in November.My Department has a critical role in fighting climate change through our work on housing, planning and building standards. Our consultation on energy efficiency standards for new homes closes on 7 February. The Department is also responsible for working with local government to build resilience capability in response to its impacts.

Public Lavatories: Non-domestic Rates

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking on the proposal to exempt local authority owned public conveniences from business rates.

Luke Hall: The Government recognises that local authority owned public toilets are valuable community amenities. However, primary legislation would be required to provide business rates relief for public toilets owned by principal local authorities and parish councils, as such bodies cannot currently have their rates bills reduced through reliefs. The Non-Domestic Rating (Lavatories) Bill, which would have resolved this matter, fell when Parliament was dissolved. The Government will consider reintroducing the measure in due course.

Ministry of Defence

Nuclear Weapons: Military Bases

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the key performance findings on page 7 of the National Audit Office report, Managing infrastructure projects on nuclear-regulated sites, published on 10 January 2020, whether funding will be reallocated from other defence projects to cover the additional £1.35 billion cost increase associated with the three projects examined and reviewed by the National Audit Office.

James Heappey: Like any large organisation we allocate funds to those activities that are the highest priority.We are committed to strengthening the management of nuclear programmes, including investing significantly in infrastructure and working closely with regulators and industry partners.

Nuclear Weapons: Transport

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to review its safety procedures for transporting nuclear weapons and radioactive materials.

James Heappey: The transportation of Defence Nuclear Material, which includes nuclear weapons, is carried out to the highest standard in accordance with stringent safety regulations. These procedures are continuously reviewed to ensure all operations are carried out safely and securely.

Department for Work and Pensions

Food Banks

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has visited a food bank since her appointment.

Will Quince: The Secretary of State has visited a food bank since her appointment.

Department for Work and Pensions: Pay

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of staff in her Department would receive an increase in their salary in the event that their hourly pay rate was (a) £8.72, (b) £9.30 and (c) £10.

Mims Davies: The below figures show the proportion of DWP staff that would receive an increase in their annual salary, using the statutory National Living Wage calculation, in the event that their hourly pay increased to (a) £8.72, (b) £9.30 and (c) £10. DWP pays all staff at least the National Living Wage, regardless of age. Hourly rateFull time equivalent salaryVolume of DWP employees that would be uplifted% of DWP headcount£8.72£19,11819152.44%£9.30£20,39062367.95%£10£21,9242667034.01%

Employment and Support Allowance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what savings have accrued to the public purse under the £30 reduction for claimants of employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group in each month since that reduction was implemented.

Justin Tomlinson: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 January 2020.The correct answer should have been:

There are no savings from the removal of the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Component for new claims from April 2017. This change enabled the Department to recycle money into providing practical support that will make a significant difference to the life chances of those in the Work-Related Activity Group. We have invested £330m over 4 years with £100m available in 2020/21 and will support those with limited capability for work to move towards and into suitable employment. The information requested on the savings accrued from the removal of the Work Related Activity Component (WRAC) is not available. It would incur disproportionate cost to calculate any actual net savings from the removal of the WRAC.  When the WRAC was removed we made a clear commitment to instead provide practical support that will make a significant difference to the life chances of those in the Work-Related Activity Group. We have been investing an additional £330m over 4 years to support those with limited capability for work to move towards and into suitable employment.

Justin Tomlinson: There are no savings from the removal of the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Component for new claims from April 2017. This change enabled the Department to recycle money into providing practical support that will make a significant difference to the life chances of those in the Work-Related Activity Group. We have invested £330m over 4 years with £100m available in 2020/21 and will support those with limited capability for work to move towards and into suitable employment. The information requested on the savings accrued from the removal of the Work Related Activity Component (WRAC) is not available. It would incur disproportionate cost to calculate any actual net savings from the removal of the WRAC.  When the WRAC was removed we made a clear commitment to instead provide practical support that will make a significant difference to the life chances of those in the Work-Related Activity Group. We have been investing an additional £330m over 4 years to support those with limited capability for work to move towards and into suitable employment.

UN Committee On the Rights of Persons With Disabilities

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing to the Disabled People's Organisation to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of Disabled People in relation to the UK Government's social welfare policies.

Justin Tomlinson: We submitted the most recent UK Government report to the UN in September 2019, outlining our progress made against the recommendations in the 2016 inquiry into welfare, independent living, legal aid, accessible communications and engagement with disabled people. The Department for Work and Pensions will be bringing forward a Green Paper in the coming months on how the health and disability welfare system can better meet the needs of people with health conditions and disabilities. We will work with disabled people and disabled people’s organisations to ensure we are addressing the right problems in the system. The Disability Unit, based in the Cabinet Office, will work closely with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations and charities to develop the National Strategy for Disabled People, with their views and experiences at the forefront of any new policy.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of (a) sanctions and (b) conditionality on the mental health and well-being of claimants.

Mims Davies: No assessment has been made to see whether there is any potential link between the sanctions regime and conditionality on the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. We engage at a personal and individual level with all of our claimants and are committed to tailoring support for specific individual needs, including agreeing realistic and structured steps to encourage claimants into or towards the labour market. These conditionality requirements are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate for the claimant. This would include tailoring to reflect any mental health issues the claimant raised. When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant’s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.

Social Security Benefits: UK Relations With EU

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has for social security co-ordination between the UK and EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.

Justin Tomlinson: During the Implementation Period the Government will be negotiating a future relationship with the EU. As set out in the Political Declaration published on 19 October 2019, both Parties have agreed to consider addressing social security coordination in the light of future movement of persons. The Withdrawal Agreement provisions on social security coordination will apply to those in scope of that agreement.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on employment and skills support to be provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Mims Davies: The government’s manifesto committed to replace European structural funds with a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a proportion of which will be targeted to ensure disadvantaged people gain the skills they need to make a success of life. We are continuing to work with government departments – including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the design and priorities of the new fund.

Home Office

Refugees: Syria

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places under the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme have been (a) applied for and (b) filled successfully in Enfield in each year since 2015.

Victoria Atkins: We are grateful to over 300 local authorities for pledging their support to the UK’s resettlement schemes, enabling us to welcome over 27,000 vulnerable refugees to the UK since 2010.The Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.The statistics, which include a local authority breakdown of resettlements, are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-releaseThe latest statistics published on 28 November 2019 show that, in total since 2015, Enfield have resettled no refugees under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and four refugees under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme, as at the end of September 2019.

Sex Establishments: Licensing

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government has plans to review the current policy on sexual entertainment licences that allows for venues to operate pop-up sexual entertainment venues.

Victoria Atkins: We currently have no plans to amend the legislation surrounding the licensing of sexual entertainment venues. However, we routinely review local licensing regulations and we continue to work with the police to make sure that public nuisance issues are being tackled.

Immigrants: Detainees

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the report of the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration on Adults at Risk in Detention Policy, which was submitted to her Department on 29 July 2019.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Secretary is considering the ICIBI report on Adults at Risk in Detention Policy, and it will be laid in Parliament in due course.

Undocumented Migrants: Amnesties

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister on 25 July 2019, Official Report, column 1491, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of an introducing an amnesty for undocumented immigrants.

Victoria Atkins: The Government remains committed to an immigration policy which welcomes and celebrates people to the UK through safe and legal routes but deters illegal immigration. The Immigration Rules already provide for undocumented migrants to regularise their status.The Immigration Rules are kept under continuous review and adjusted where necessary in light of feedback, impact and the findings of the courts.

Visas: Families

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to increase the minimum income requirement for non-European Economic Area family members to secure a visa to join their British or settled spouse or partner in the UK.

Victoria Atkins: The minimum income requirement was implemented in July 2012 as part of a package of reforms to the family Immigration Rules, and the overall assessment is that it strikes a fair balance between an individual’s right to family life, the economic wellbeing of the UK and the community in general.The Supreme Court has upheld the lawfulness of the minimum income requirement, which prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration, declaring that the policy is neither a breach of the right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights nor discriminatory.The Immigration Rules are kept under continuous review including the minimum income requirement and adjusted where necessary in light of feedback, impact and the findings of the courts.

Asylum: Employment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 25 July 2019, Official Report column 1493, what progress her Department has made in reviewing the ban on asylum seekers working.

Victoria Atkins: Work on the review of Home Office policy on asylum seeker right to work is ongoing. This is a complex issue and it is crucial we take the time to get this right. We are listening carefully to the arguments and considering the evidence put forward on the issue.

Offences against Children: Gangs

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will give the police more powers to tackle child-grooming gangs.

Victoria Atkins: Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and this Government will not allow there to be any safe space for predators to operate.We are giving law enforcement the powers and tools it needs to bring those who exploit children to justice. Last year, we announced that we will be investing a further £30m in law enforcement capabilities to ensure offenders are no longer able to prey on society’s most vulnerable.This year the Government will publish a comprehensive national strategy to tackle all forms of child sexual abuse, including grooming. Our new strategy will set out our whole system response to tackling child sexual abuse and how we will work across government, law enforcement, safeguarding partners and industry to root out offending, protect victims and help victims and survivors rebuild their lives.New sentencing laws will ensure the most serious violent and sexual offenders spend time in prison that matches the severity of their crimes, protecting victims and giving the public confidence. We have already updated charging guidance to help ensure child sex offenders are properly brought to justice.

Northern Ireland Office

Borders: Ireland (Island)

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of border checks on the island of Ireland.

Julian Smith: It is excellent news that the Northern Ireland Executive has been restored and that Stormont is once again up and running. I look forward to working with the Executive in the next phase of negotiations, including work with the UK-EU Joint Committee.The Withdrawal Agreement achieves the common aim of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland: there will be no border checks on the land border. Movement between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is within the UK. This Government has been clear on its commitment to ensuring that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK internal market. As set out in the agreed New Decade, New Approach deal, the Government will legislate to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland’s businesses to the whole of the UK internal market, and ensure that this legislation is in force for 01 January 2021.

Northern Ireland Office: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of climate change on the work of his Department; and what steps he is taking in response to that effect.

Julian Smith: The Northern Ireland Office supports the Greening Government Commitments and has taken steps to improve the environmental performance of its own estate and operations. The Department has introduced initiatives such as the use of more energy efficient LED lighting, removal of single use plastic products, investment in new energy efficient boilers, and taken steps to reduce its energy footprint by cutting down the requirement for staff to travel by making greater use of modern technology to broaden the range of video conferencing facilities. .

Northern Ireland Office: Trade Unions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the General Data Protection Regulation on the right of recognised unions to access bargaining information in his Department in relation to section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Julian Smith: Staff in my Department are employed under the terms and conditions of the Ministry of Justice.The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation has not affected the rights of unions in the Ministry of Justice in relation to bargaining information provided under section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Northern Ireland Office: Pay

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of his Department's compliance with section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code.

Julian Smith: While my Department does not currently have any Trade Union representatives, all staff are employed under the terms and conditions of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and staff have access to the services of Trade Unions in the MoJ. My Department is aware that it has an obligation to provide reasonable paid time off to recognised trade union representatives to undertake trade union duties. This includes paid time off to Health and Safety representatives as set out in section 3.1.8 of the Civil Service Management Code.The MoJ, in line with the legislative obligation set out in the Trade Union Act (2016), annually publishes information relating to facility time for relevant union officials. Facility time is defined by the Act as including time off taken by a relevant union official that is permitted by the official’s employer, including under “regulations made under section 2(4) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974”.The Government recognises there are significant benefits to both employers and employees when organisations and unions work together effectively to deliver high quality public services, but facility time within the public sector must be accountable and represent value for money.

Capital Investment: Northern Ireland

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what role the Government will have in the implementation of the £1 billion of new resource and capital spending announced for Northern Ireland on 15 January 2020.

Julian Smith: The UK Government is providing a £2bn injection of financial support to the new Northern Ireland Executive. The funding package is accompanied by a number of conditions designed to ensure that the UK Government has a role in the implementation of the funding package to help increase overall fiscal and budgetary sustainability in Northern Ireland’s finances.A new UK Government - Northern Ireland Executive joint board will be established, convened by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to oversee implementation. The Joint Board would have as part of its Terms of Reference in particular the oversight of transformation efforts in health, education and justice where these would draw on funding under this agreement.

Capital Investment: Northern Ireland

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what conditions will be attached to the £1 billion of new resource and capital spending announced for Northern Ireland on 15 January 2020.

Julian Smith: The £2 billion injection of financial support announced by the UK Government will help transform public services in Northern Ireland, including helping to end the nurses’ pay dispute.The financial package is accompanied by stringent conditions to deliver a greater level of accountability for public spending and ensure the new Executive is building sustainable public services. The agreement includes commitments on reform, independent monitoring and reporting of the Executive’s performance, and a role for the UK Government in overseeing implementation of this and previous agreements.

Abortion: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what counselling services will be made available to women in Northern Ireland seeking an abortion following the introduction of the new regulatory framework on abortion on 31 March 2020.

Julian Smith: In delivering on its legal duty to provide lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland, the Government has been clear that we want to ensure we are delivering in a way that works best for Northern Ireland - which is why we consulted on the proposals for the new legislative framework. The consultation provided an opportunity for the people in Northern Ireland and relevant organisations to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver services that are consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.We are carefully considering the consultation responses, and ensuring that the views received are reflected in the Government’s response, and inform the final framework that will be provided for in the regulations. We are also continuing to work closely with the healthcare profession, and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland who will oversee the framework’s delivery model and the operational readiness of services. In developing this work, the health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, remain at the forefront of the Government’s consideration.

Abortion: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which stakeholder groups he has met to discuss proposals for a new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Julian Smith: In consulting on the proposals for a new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. These groups include the Northern Ireland Department of Health, healthcare professionals, the all-Ireland church leaders group, abortion sector care providers, trade unions and civil society organisations; as well meeting with individuals who have been affected by the law.The Northern Ireland Office will continue to consult with stakeholders to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver the new legal framework for abortion services is developed.

Treasury

Treasury: Trade Unions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation affects the right of recognised unions in his Department to bargaining information as set out in Section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Mr Simon Clarke: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has not affected the rights of unions in HMT to bargaining information provided under section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Financial Services: Trade Agreements

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is the Government's policy that the UK EU trade deal will include the financial services sector.

John Glen: Yes. The UK has always been clear that we are seeking a broad and stable future relationship with the EU in financial services.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Climate Change

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of climate change on the work of her Department; and what steps she is taking in response to that effect.

Nigel Adams: DCMS is committed to helping tackle climate change. The UK is a world leader in cutting emissions while growing the economy. Our world-leading net zero target will require transformation across the economy. HMG will set out further plans to deliver net zero throughout 2020 ahead of COP26, including plans on energy and heat in buildings. HMG is leading from the front, reducing emissions from the government estate and delivering on the Greening Government Commitments.DCMS works closely with the Electronic Communications Resilience and Response Group (the industry run group which represents all the major Telecoms operators and leads on resilience activity and best practice); this group has produced reports on climate change adaptation and we have worked closely with them and with Defra colleagues to develop a template which will enable a sector wide response to the third adaptation reporting round which closes at the end of 2021.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Families

Steve Double: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department has a single individual who is responsible for leading on her Department's application of the Family Test.

Victoria Atkins: Each department has a Family Test lead who is part of DWP's Family Test Network. This Network is the central forum through which DWP have sought input and comments on the support departments need to help with Family Test implementation. This includes Network members feeding into improvements to the existing guidance for officials in all departments on Family Test implementation.